Apparatus for automatically interconnecting components of stitchable material

ABSTRACT

The three components of a shoe upper, namely, a quarter, a vamp and a tongue, are gauged and fed together in a sewing machine, where they are sewn along a predetermined stitching path. The components move during sewing to actuate a variety of switches, which cause the stitching path to change direction. The switches are mechanical and photoelectric, and enable abrupt changes in the stitching path. The finished product is a complete shoe upper, with the three components interconnected in the conventional manner.

United States Patent [191 Beamish et al.

[ Mar. 26, 1974 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY INTERCONNECTING COMPONENTS OF STITCHABLE MATERIAL Inventors: Bernard D. Beamish, Port Credit,

Ontario; David G. Taylor, Etobicoke, Ontario, both of Canada Bata Shoe Financial Corporation of Canada Limited, Batavia, Ontario, Canada Filed: June 14, 1971 Appl. No.: 152,774

Assignee:

US. Cl ll2/12l.29,112/47,1l2/121.15, 112/205 Int. Cl D05b 33/00 Field ofSearch 112/2, 121.11, 121.12, 112/121.15, 121.29, 203, 205, 47; 271/1;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 957 10/1971 Beazley ..112/12l.l1X

3.611961 10/1971 Lopez III/121.11

3.588.087 6/1971 Rovin 270/58 3.598.070 8/1971 Rosenberg 112/121.l5 X 2,971,483 2/1961 Cordier 112/205 3,417,718 12/1968 Andersson 112/203 3,636,898 1/1972 Conner. .lr. 112/203 Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Attorney. Agent, or Firm--Ho1man & Stern [57] ABSTRACT The three components of a shoe upper, namely, a quarter, a vamp and a tongue, are gauged and fed together in a sewing machine, where they are sewn along a predetermined stitching path. The components move during sewing to actuate a variety of switches, which cause the stitching path to change direction. The switches are mechanical and photoelectric, and enable abrupt changes in the stitching path. The finished product is a complete shoe upper, with the three components interconnected in the conventional mannet.

9 Claims, 37 Drawing Figures PMENTED UAR 26 I974 SHEET 01 0F 23 INVENTORS BERNARD D. BEAMISH DAVID G TAYLOR I PATENTEU R26 I974 sum 02 0F 23 JNVENTORS' BERNARD D. BEAMISH DAVID G TAYLOR PMENTEBIARZB m4 3.799.087

sum 03 or 23 INVENTOR9 BERNARD D. BEAMISH DAVID G. TAYLOR PATENTEDmae m4 3.799.087

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sum 080F213 INVENTOR. BERNARD D. BEAMISH DAVID G. TAYLOR SHEET 09 HF 23 INVENTOR5 BERNARD D. BEAMISH DAVID G. TAYLOR FIG.11

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1. An apparatus for automatically interconnecting shoe upper components including a quarter, vamp and tongue formed of stitchable material along a predetermined path of connection extending parallel to one edge of said vamp, said apparatus comprising: A. means for engaging and gauging said components prior to interconnection, including i. a stacking device for retaining a stock of each of said components; ii. gauging means for gauging each of said components one at a time; and iii. feed means for feeding each of said components one at a time to said gauging means; B. means for feeding said components into overlapping relationship at a stitching location C. means for stitching said components, at said stitching location, in overlapping relationship along said predetermined path of connection, said stitching means including i. a sewing machine; and ii. guiding means for causing said components to move along said predetermined path of connection through said sewing machine, said guiding means including (a) a first guiding element for causing said path of connection to follow an arc, (b) a second guiding element for causing said path of connection to follow a straight line, and (c) third and fourth guiding elements for causing said path of connection to follow arcs, said arcs being of different radii, said arcs and straight line defining one half of said path of connection; and D. sensing means for controlliNg the direction of travel of said components to ensure the stitching of said components along said predetermined path of connection.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes: i. photoelectric cell means for occlusion by said components during travel along said path of connection, whereby the direction of the path of connection can be changed; and ii. electrical control means for actuating and deactuating said guiding elements in a predetermined sequence.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, including a quarter turning assembly for turning one end of said quarter into engagement with one end of said vamp following completion of one half of said path of connection.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, including a centre point correction device for ensuring that the second half of said path of connection is the mirror image of said one half of the path of connection.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, including clamping means for movement into engagement with said vamp between stitching of said arcs and straight line.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, including a wander pin for engaging and guiding said quarter and vamp at the start of stitching.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said first, third and fourth guiding elements includes: i. pins for engaging said vamp; ii. means pivotally supporting said pins for rotation about a vertical axis from an initial rest position through an arc; iii. means for returning said pins to said initial rest position; and iv. means for moving said pins vertically into and out of engagement with said vamp.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second guiding element includes: i. a pin for engaging said vamp; ii. means slidably supporting said pin for movement along a straight line path of travel from an initial rest position; iii. means for returning said pin to said initial rest position; and iv. means for moving said pin vertically into and out of engagement with said vamp.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said quarter turning assembly includes: i. pins for engaging said one end of said quarter; ii. means for moving said one end of said quarter along a straight line path of travel; and iii. means for turning said one end of said quarter through a semicircle into engagement with said one end of said vamp. 